Axle-forging apparatus



wlzlwama Dec; 8, 1925.

, c. WEATHERSON AXLE FORGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1. 1919 a Sheets-Sheet 2 j/Eaen 0r:

' Dec- 8, 1925- C. WEATHERSON AXLE rename APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. l. 1919 Patented Dec. 8, 1 925.

. UNITED STATES cnnrsrornnn WEATHERSON, or oHIoAeo, rumors; SARAHJ. WnA'rrrERsoN.

nournrx or SAID CHRISTOPHER wnacrnnnson, DECEASED.

' AXLE-rename APrAnArus.

Application filed October To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER VEATH- mason, a citizen of the United States, resid-' ing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of. Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Axle-Forging Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an axle manipulating device and has particular reference to a device for use in the forging operation incident to the manufacture of car axles.

One of the objects of the invention isthe provision of a device which will handle the axle during the entire forging operation without the assistance of tongs, as has been the practice heretofore.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus which will keep the axle blank out of contact with the forging dies, except for the brief period when the'dies are actually working upon the axle blank. It has been the practice heretofore to place an axle blank between a pair of re ciprocating dies, one of which' supports the axle blank all of the time, even while the workmen by the assistance of tongs turn the blank to complete the forging operation. Because of the fact that the axle blank is forged hot while it is resting upon the die it loses a considerable amount of heat and makes the forging of the axle moredifiicult. By my nnproved device this loss of heat is eliminated as the axle 1s only 1n contact with the lower die during the time when the blank is being worked by the dies and the forging of the axles is completed at a higher heat thus insuring better quality in the axles.

Another and further object of my inve1i- I Still another objectf my invention isthe provision of a forging apparatus which will completely form a car axle without the aid of a straightening machine and also without the necessity of calipering the axle p during the forging operation, as the axle is forged down until the die faces are in contact'and the axle being constantly turned during the forging operation is practically 1919. Serial No. senses.)

straightening machine;

i Another and further object of my invention is the provision of an. apparatus which will besimple and efli'cient infoperation, positive in its action and which will control the axle blank from the beginning of-the forging operation until the blank'is forged into a completed axles These and otherobjects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings, and in which Figure 1 is a general proved invention:

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the rear end thereof; i f

Figure?) is a sideview in'elevation; V Figure 4 is a sectional view on lines 44' of Ifigurel; 7 Figure 5 is a sectional View showing the plan view of my im-i 1,564.915. I i PATENT o lcn; 5

straight so there'is no necessity of'using a (so I method of mounting the table u o the frame; and I 1 specifically to the I draw sectional view ofone of the so ings, a foundation 10 of: concrete or other suitable material is shown to whichi is secured a base or frame ll in any suitable manner as by bolts 12. Vertical columns 13, 15 and 16are shown which support the forge press (not shown); A sliding table 17 is, mounted upon projections .18 integrally with the'frarne 11, the said projections hav-' ing V-shap'ed v tops within which suitable slidesQO, 20' securedto the table are mount- A'shaft 21: is carried by the sliding table17 upon the ends of which are mounted levers 22 and 23. Coun'ter weights'24: and 25 are mounted upon the rear end of the levers '22 and 23 respectively "and are adjustably held in.. position by means of screws2 6,' 26 'upon'the-forward 'ends of the levers 22 and 23. A- pair of sin.-

tional view'of one of" these cylinders being shown in Figure 6. Piston rods 29 extend V completely through the; cylinders. an'd ha ve istons 30 mounted. thereon, one end-of the piston'ro'ds 29 being pointedor-sharp'ened'so i a hand wheel 3 3 mountedupon the [outerthat'they will engage the endof the axle" blank as hereinafter described, and having. 11o.

end of one.v of the piston rods for purposes hereinafter described. The piston rods 29 7 pass through the cylinder' heads 32 and pairof single acting cylinders 40 and through the inner end of'the cylinders,

glands 31 being secured" in the inner end of the cylinders and which serve as guides for the piston rods 29. An opening 34 is pro- Vided in the cylinder head 32 through which fluid pressure is admited to the cylinder and whichserves to drive the piston. rods 29' inwardly into engagement wt-ih theaxle blank ashereina-fter described. A. suitablegland 35is provided. in the: cylinder head 32 and which surrounds thepiston rod 29, the. gland 35 beinglheld inposition by a cap- 36-which is. in threaded i engagement with the cylinder head321inthe usual manner. Afluid pressuresupp1y-37 is-provided which leads to each of the cylinders 27-and 28, the pipe 87 being connected to thecylinder heads at the opening. 34v for the purpose of admitting fluid pressure to the cylinders 27 and 28.

A vent. 31: isprovided in each of the cylindersnear their inner ends, to allow'for the free passage of-a-irin and out of the cylinders. V

Mounted on'each'side of the table 17 is a 41, the said cylinders being secured to the table 17 by'means of bolts 381passing.throughthe side of;.th e tablel? andbracket portions 39 of the cylinders 40 and 41 and having pisfor the purposes:hereinafter described. A

fluid} pressure line47 is provided fort-he.

purpose of supplying pressureto each of V the cylinders 40 and 41.

Suitably rnountedl upon the frame 11lis a double actingcylinder 481 having a piston rod 49 located therein to whichris secured a pistonbO, the-sai'dpiston rod 49 atfits for- ,ward end beingsecured toa p.ro]ection 51 extending 1 downwardly from the. sliding table 17 and integral therewith. A. bolt52 having a lock nut 53 .tl1ereon:eXtends through the rear. cylinder. head: 54. of; the

' cylinder 48 and provides-uneans for limiting the extentto whichv the cylinder head '50 may travel rearward-10f the cylinder. Fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 48 throughpressure lines and: 56 respective ly," the line 55 admitting fluid pressure to the rear of the cylinder48 and the line-56 admitting pressure to the forward endof the said cylinder 48 for the purpose of moving the table 17 forward and backward as here'- inafter described. Secured to the columns 14-and15respectively is a pair-of'braekets 57" and 58to the outer ends of which is secured a bracket 59. Upon this bracket is mounted a pair of three-way valves 60 and 61 which control the admission and ,outlet' of fluid pressure to the lines 37 and 47 respectively. A four-way valve 62 is also secured to this bracket- 59. and whichcontrols the pipe lines 55 and 56 pair ofQV- shaped brackets 63 and 6.4 are provided which are secured to the frame 11 by means. of bolts, 65 or in any other suitable manner.

Apair of reciprocating upper and lower forging dies 66 and 67 respectively are provided having adapted thereto suitable operating mechanism (not shown) whiclrforms .no part of my present invention. A pair ofinclinedskids 68 and 69 are. provided upon which the axles are placedafter the forging operation is complete and which leadztothe loading platform or to any other placede sired.

As will be apparent ,fronrthe foregoing description,the operation of thedeviceis comparatively simple. I A blank or axle billet, 70 which hasbeen rolled to a suitable diameter and cut to the proper lengthis laced upon the V-shaped'support's 63 and 64. The, table 17 in thein'eantime'has been brought to a point where the pistonrods 29 carried by the cylinders 27 and 28 respectively are brought into va position centrally located with, respect to the axle blank by,

meansv of fluid pressure admitted to the forward end of the-cylinder 4 8' through the four-way valve .62. This position of the tableli'. iscontrolled'by the bolt 52 which is adjusted to such position that when the piston 5O abuts against the bolt 52, the-gripping ends of the piston rodsr29 are' centr ally located ofthe axle blank 70. The bolt {52 canzalso be. adjusted -so.a s,to vproperly posis tion the gripping cylinders for axle blanks of dilferentsizesor diameters. ,Pressure is then admitted to the cylinders- .27. and 28 through the line 37runder the control the three-way valve .60, so, that. the piston rods grips and securely hold theaXle blank in proper position. 7

The. gripping cylinders Y and brought to proper positioltfas to height-by means of pressure admitted to tliej .cylinders 4O and4lg through theflin-e 47 which is under control.- ofthe three-way valve. .6 1

The ',height to which tl e 'piston jrods 42 and 4 3: can pass is controlled 1 by the adjustment of the lock nuts46 on the lower,endofrthe piston rods, Up on the gripping cylinders being brought to proper pos tion foutsi'de. ,ot' the ends. of the, axle blanks pressure is ad mittedto. the cylinders 27and 28. through the three-way valve 60 and pipeline 3'? so that the gripping devices 29 are driven into the endsof the axle blank 69. The fluid is thereupon exhausted by means of the threeends of the levers 22 and 23 to be lowered because of the counter-weights 24 and 25 then lifting the axle blank off the V-supports 63 and 64. Pressure is thereupon admitted to therear end of the cylinder 48 and behind the piston 50 through the pipe line until the axle blankis moved into first forging position between the forging dies 66 and 67. Because of the lowering of' the rear ends of the levers and 23 the axle blank is raised to a suflicient distance-to pass out of the V-shaped holders 63 and 64 and, over the inner edge of the dies 66 and 67. Upon being brought to the proper forging position between the dies 66 and 67 pressure is again admitted! through the cylinders 40 and 41 respectively so the levers 22 and. 23

are elevated, bringing the axle blank downward to a slight degree, the forging process thereupon commences which forces the upper die down upon the blank and continuing until the forging dies are in contact with each other. A'suitable number of strokes of the press is given while at the same time thecaxle blank 7 Dis rotated by means of the hand wheel 23 on the end of the shaft 31. This'process is continued until the top and bottom dies come in contact. Thereupon the pressure is exhausted from the cylinders 40 and 41 allowing the levers 22 and '23 to drop down, the v counter-weights being sufficient to raise the axle blank and the blank is moved to the second forging position between the dies by means of the cylinders 48 acting upon the sliding table 17 when the same operation as heretofore described is continued and the forging operation completed. After the completion of the forging operation the pressure is again exhausted from the cylinders 40 and 41 and more pressure admitted to the double acting cylinder 48 by the four-way valve 62 through the pipe 55 and the completed axle carried to a position above the skids 68 and 69. The pressure is released from the gripping cylinders 27 and '28, thus releasing the axle blank on to the skids 68 and 69. The.

pressure is thereupon released from the rear of the cylinder 48 through thepipe '55 and pressure admitted through the supply pipe 56 by means of the four-way valve 62 to the forward end of the cylinder 48, thus bringing the sliding table 17 back on to the frame and into position to pick up a second blank. V

I propose to operate the pistons in the various cylinders and maintain a uniform pressure on the operating cylinders and particularly the gripping cylinders 27 and 28 by means of compressed air contained in a tank from which a supply line 76; leads to a header 77 from which header small pipes lead to the valves 60, 61 and 62 respectively. p

dies the axle is lifted upward'fromthe lower die until the levers 22 and 23 rest upon the ends'of the piston rods 42 and 43, so that the loss of heatbyreason of the axle'coming incontact with the dies is reduced to a minimum. control of the operatorsat all times without the usual handling of the axlelblankby means of tongs as has been the practice c heretofore. I

WVhile I have described more or less precisely the details ofconst-ruction, I 'do not wishto .be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate ch'anges in form and the proportion ofparts andthe substitution of "etpiiva'lents'as circumstances may suggest or render expedient 'without-depart ing from the spirit 1 claim I v 1. In combinatlon, a forging press having or scope ofmy invention.

The axle blank is, of course, under--' upper and'lower dies, themanipulating mech mounted upon the framei for holding the work piece in position during'the forging operation and moving 'it to'difi'erent positions during thesaid operation, the said" anism comprising a movable frame, means means also being adapted to hold the work piece suspended between the upper and lower dieswhen the force of the upper die is removed from the said work piece.

2. In combination, a forging press, forg-. ing dies mounted in said press, a manipulating mechanism comprising a frame, a movable table mounted upon saidframe, and meansisecured to said table for holding a metal blank during the forging operation, whereby a metal blank is lifted outv of'contact with the lower forging operation.

3. In combination, a forging press, forging dies mounted in said press, amanipulatforging die at each ing mechanism comprising a frame, a slidv of cylinders mounted upon the ends of said levers,-and gripping pistons mounted within"? said cylinders.

4. In combination with'a forge press,iai

ing table mounted uponsaid frame, means I V for moving the slidingtable, a pair of piv-' otally mounted levers upon said table, apair frame, a; pair of pivotally; mounted arms ;se;

m nipula ing; m hanism compr sing frame, a2 sliding tablemounted upon said cured to said table, means for raising and 1 lowering said arms, gripping means secured v to;sa 1d arms, and means. for moving said,

sli'ding tab le on-the frame. J

5 In conibln tion withforg ip ess hav mg uppenand-lower forging Cl1S L -II1E1!11p ulating; mechanism comprising a frame,

movable table upon said frame,'means for actuatlng the, sa d table, ,a; palr. of counterbalanced plvotally mounted arms securedto said.- --.t-al0le means carried by said arms 15 whereby. a metalblank isheld in position between .the. Y dies, during the forging opera:

7 t.iQn said countel-balanced arms adapted to; ,lift: the blank outof conta-ct aftereachforgngw ope ation a d t0 3 hold he blank out f contact therewith until. the next forging perat on 6..; -In combination with a; forging press having-upper and lower forgingdies, a

framma movable table mounted thereon, a'

pair of pivotally mounted arms secured to said table, meansat the forward endof said 7 arms-for holdingametal blank, means for moving the said table andtadj ustable counterweightsrsecuredto the rear ends of said cylinders h ying gripping, pistons h in carriediby-the saith arms, meansfor moving the said table upon the-said frame and a pair of, cylinders adapted to movetlre'said' arms whe'n a fiuid' pressure is admitted to 1 the said cylinders. v i v,

nicemh eet on, a mampulat n mechanism compr sing ,a; frame, a movable i table mounted, thereon,- a cylinder. mounted; upon oted arms and cylinders carriedby said framesadaptedto manipulate the said pive oted; arms. v I

10. IncoInbiliiUlOIi, a manipulatiiignchanismcomprisingaifram'e, a movable table 1 I1ted, l1e1;'e0n,- a par. of. pivotallv moun ed arms, secured,- to the saidtable, counterweights on the rear :eHdSgQf said arms, cylinders having gripping piston therein lo a ried by, the forwardends of the, said" arms, pistons carried by said cylinders adapt to grip aimetal blank andhavingimeansiexi tending throu glr the re,ar, of the said cylinders; whereby. the pistons inay berotated;

11. In combinatitm a, lnanipulating wmechanism comprising a frame, a movable table mounted thereon, a-v p air, ofl'pivotally mounted r arms secured to, said table, means at the forward ends of said'arms for gripping a metal blank, vva cylinder carried by said frame, a piston mounted 'thereinand secured to said movable table, a pair of cylinders carriedby saidtable liaving pistons mounts ed therein: and adapted t of tilt the pivotally mounted arms and-.means: forL controlling the admission of a fluidpressure to said cylinders.

Signed at ohicagel1un0a, .this26th day ofSeptember, 191 9. V

CHRISTOPHER WEATHERSON. 

